David A Brent, MD

Endowed Chair in Suicide Studies and Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, Clinical and Translational Science, Epidemiology, and Pediatrics

Areas of Expertise

  • Children & Adolescents
  • Mood Disorders
  • Anxiety, OCD & Trauma Disorders
  • Suicidality & Self-Harm
David A Brent, MD
Expertise & Interests Selected Publications Education & Credentials Related News

Expertise & Interests

Research Interests

Treatment of adolescent depression; Adolescent suicide prevention; Prediction of suicidal risk

Clinical Interests

Adolescent suicide and suicidal behavior; Cognitive behavior therapy; Adolescent depression

Education Interests

Research mentorship

Selected Publications

  1. Auerbach RP, Bloom PA, Pagliaccio D, Lan R, Galfalvy H, Bitran A, Durham K, Crowley R, Joyce K, Blanchard A, Chernick LS, Dayan PS, Greenblatt J, Kahn LE, Porta G, Tse TC, Cohn JF, Morency LP, Brent DA, Allen NB. Using Smartphone GPS Data to Detect the Risk of Adolescent Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Jan 2;8(1):e2456429. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.56429. PMID: 39869336; PMCID: PMC11773992.
  2. Goldstein TR, Kennard BD, Porta G, Miller AO, Aguilar K, Bigley K, Vaughn-Coaxum RA, McMakin DL, Douaihy A, Iyengar S, Biernesser CL, Zelazny J, Brent DA. Bridging Gaps in Care Following Hospitalization for Suicidal Adolescents: As Safe As Possible (ASAP) and BRITE App. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2025 May;64(5):612-624. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2024.06.008. Epub 2024 Jul 18. PMID: 39032815.
  3. Hamilton JL, Tsypes A, Zelazny J, Sewall CJR, Rode N, Merranko J, Brent DA, Goldstein TR, Franzen PL. Sleep influences daily suicidal ideation through affective reactivity to interpersonal events among high-risk adolescents and young adults. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2023 Jan;64(1):27-38. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.13651. Epub 2022 Jul 2.
  4. Brent DA, Horowitz LM, Grupp-Phelan J, Bridge JA, Gibbons R, Chernick LS, Rea M, Cwik MF, Shenoi RP, Fein JA, Mahabee-Gittens EM, Patel SJ, Mistry RD, Duffy S, Melzer-Lange MD, Rogers A, Cohen DM, Keller A, Hickey RW, Page K, Casper TC, King CA; Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN). Prediction of Suicide Attempts and Suicide-Related Events Among Adolescents Seen in Emergency Departments. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Feb 1;6(2):e2255986. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.55986. PMID: 36790810; PMCID: PMC9932829.
  5. Tsui FR, Shi L, Ruiz V, Ryan ND, Biernesser C, Iyengar S, Walsh CG, Brent DA. Natural language processing and machine learning of electronic health records for prediction of first-time suicide attempts. JAMIA Open. 2021 Mar 17;4(1):ooab011. doi: 10.1093/jamiaopen/ooab011. PMID: 33758800; PMCID: PMC7966858.
  6. Brent DA, Poling K, Goldstein TR. Treating Depressed and Suicidal Adolescents: A Clinician's Guide New York: Guilford Press; 2011.
  7. Kerr MM, Brent DA, McKain B, McCommons PS. Postvention Standards Manual - A Guide for a School's Response in the Aftermath of a Sudden Death. Pittsburgh:University of Pittsburgh; 2010.
  8. Poling K, Brent DA, Birmaher B. Understanding and Coping with Bipolar Illness: A Survival Manual for Families. Pittsburgh: WPIC; 1998.
  9. Brent DA, Poling K. Cognitive Therapy Manual for Depressed and Suicidal Youth. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh; 1997.

Education & Credentials

Education & Training

Education
MD, Jefferson Medical College
Education
MSHyg, Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health
Residency
General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC
Postdoctoral
Cognitive Therapy, University of Pennsylvania Cognitive Therapy Institute
Postdoctoral
Psychiatric Epidemiology, Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic of UPMC

Selected Honors & Awards

  • Morselli Medal, International Academy of Suicide Research
  • Ruane Prize, National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders
  • Top 10 Advancements and Breakthroughs in 2016, Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

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